Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag successfully invoked the spirit of Odin, the most powerful of the Nordic Gods to claim victory at the Siddis Entertainment Championships.

It gave dominion over their rivals for a record 19th time, as MD Ingar Bergby directed a set featuring original compositions from Fredrick Schjelderup, Reid Gilje and Frode Rydland before appropriately closing with the final section of Arthur Butterworth's major contest work, 'Odin — from the Land of Fire and Ice'.

Eschewing the links to allegory, metaphor and symbolism employed by others on the day, it enabled the MD to define the character and association of the pagan Norse God by simply concentrating on outstanding ensemble and section playing.

Interestingly, Bergby revealed that the theme was not his, but came from Eikanger's renowned musical team led by Reid Gilje and Frode Rydland. He had to "step in" as he said only after Reid was unable to direct due to a long-standing prior engagement.

Calming influence

"It was a very nice performance, absolutely," he said in his post-performance BrassPass.tv interview. "It was intense and the right atmosphere I felt for all this music." He also added that their featured quartet, led by the 'calming' influence of flugel player Gyda Matland "was a conductor's dream".

In addition, he paid tribute to the "great talent" of rising compositional star Fredrick Schelderup but expressed his joy of working on the "really, really great" Arthur Butterworth score.

Interestingly, he admitted that he was a composer he had never previously heard of, but which he said he would now "check out" with a symphony orchestra, as he felt he was "in the league with Gustav Holst".

Quality

The adjudication team of Norwegian composer Stig Nordhagen and Belgian conductor Ben Haemhouts were certainly impressed by both the quality of the music and the assessment of its content as Eikanger opened with the dramatic 'Overture: Valhalla'.

With the MD a lucidly imposing presence in sending out invisible communication through his expressive gestures to his players, the music grew in intensity.

The contrasting portraiture of the beauty of the 'Aurora' northern lights was set against the figures of Odin's hammer wielding son, 'Thor' and mysterious wife, 'Frigg' (featuring the flugel and horn section).

It ended in self-prophetic generation with the malevolent scherzo from the Butterworth work.

United Stavanger

It gave a clear margin of victory over closest challengers, Stavanger, as Allan Withington drew his inspiration not from the dark chapters of myth, but from the very real troubles of the modern day world.

Written by young British composer Daniel Hall, 'United we stand, divided we fall' touched powerfully on the political strife in Europe — from France to Ukraine, urban planning to questions of identity, although it was the recognition of the timeless virtuosity of Italian violinist Paganini that gave the 'Best Soloist' award to their horn star Arfon Owen.

Money matters for Kleppe

Fredrick Schjelderup also provided the inspirational eclecticism for the programme of third placed Kleppe Musikklag.

The corrosive as well as comedic effects of 'The love of money' allowed MD Tormod Flaten and his band to cleverly explore different stylistic genres — from manic Wall Street trading and the worrying effects of avarice, to the epicurean greed of their bombastic bass trombone, rounded off with more than a hint of Carl Orff.

No symbol of success for Manger

Somewhat surprisingly, the musical exploration of the symbolism of William Golding's 1954 novel 'The Lord of the Flies' by defending champion Manger failed to resonate with the judges.

Perhaps Martin Winter's esoteric take on the celebrated allegory was just that, as it did not directly look to relate to the story's narrative, despite use of its heralding conch and the link to the magnetic draw of the signalling fire.

The deliberate overpowering use of the electric guitar and drum kit in 'The Beast' finale also gave a distinctive stamp of difference — the energised approach certainly finding favour in the hall as it gained a standing ovation.

Other worlds

No problems for the judges understanding the Fermi Paradox from a well drilled Jaren Hornmusikkforening led by Adam Cooke though.

The conjecture question of whether there could be life elsewhere in the universe was evoked with typical inventiveness in a specially written set by composer Simon Dobson and played with quality contributions all-round the stand.

The power of prayer and faith also provided an engaging inspiration (and which won the separate entertainment prize) for the set performed by Bjorsvik Brass, whilst Oslo's message of the growing 'Dark Clouds' of potential impending environmental disaster certainly gave food for thought.

Krohnengen's 'Love letter' from Bergen and Tertnes' 'Postcard from the Americas' all added to the wide spectrum of musical inspiration on show, yet it was Eikanger's imposingly simple display of outstanding ensemble musical quality that was both the most effective and eloquent message of all.

First Division:

Earlier in the day in the Stavanger Concert Hall auditorium it was Flesland Musikklag's colourful trip to Brazil that claimed a deserved first ever First Division title victory.

Their set was predominantly arranged by MD, Margie Antrobus, whose relaxed conducting style without a score inspired her band to play with distinctive confidence.

The up tempo 'Magalenha' and 'El Cumbanchero' (featuring some great trumpet playing) bookended the contrasting features of 'Los Hermanos de Bop', a super flugel soloist in Sigrun Storheim on 'Estrellita' and the rambunctious tuba led cornet feature 'El Chocio'.

All together

Speaking after their performance Margie said the idea came from her looking for an unfamiliar tango. Solo cornet Stefan Cooper also felt its success was due to the players "all enjoy being together". He added: "It's really what banding is about."

The celebrations will no doubt have been the same long into the Stavanger night.

Viking pip

It enabled Flesland to pip defending champion Sola Brass by a point, as Welsh MD Gwyn Evans brought musical inspiration from his adopted 'Viking' homeland with a set specially composed and arranged by him.

Third place in a high-quality contest for Katrina Marzella and Garry Cutt to adjudicate came from Rong Brass, with a Quincy Jones inspired score from the film 'The Wiz' that featured a splendid 'Best Soloist' contribution from flugel player, Kine Oen.

Elsewhere the top-six places went to Askøy's musical postcard set written and arranged by MD, Svein Henrik Giske, Oslofjord's avian musical exploration from Firebird to Eagles, and Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn's programme inspired by animated dance forms.

Second Division:

There was an enjoyable musical marathon for judges Ingrid Wangsvik and Chris Jeans to compare in the Second Division in the Kuppelhallen venue, as 15 bands took to the stage.

In the end it was the well-known anarchic entertainers Montebello Brass, as the final performer, who claimed the honours (their first ever at the contest) under Preben Nicolay Kragh-Riesling.

This time however there was a more serious message behind their presentation, with hints to the troubles imposed by President Putin. They opened with 'Blenheim Flourishes' before soprano player David Wechsel Strom delivered a fine rendition of Tom Brevik's 'Motet'.

The playful 'Champagne Tango' led into Derek Bourgeois' 'The Downfall of Lucifer' — and the musical inference to see the downfall of the Russian President.

Dragons and Song

Second place went to Sagvag Musikklag, who made a musical journey across the North Sea to Wales, a place well known to their MD, Morten E Hansen. Their evocative 'Land of Dragons and Song' set saw them come close to claiming their first title success.

The final podium place went to Kronhengen Old Stars as they also went on something of a musical travelogue — from the middle eastern 'Caravan' to the back streets of Buenos Aires and Piazzolla's 'Libertango'.

Magic Fielding

Elsewhere, the top-six places went to the Americana musicality of Bergen Brass, Manger Old Stars' little touch of 'Black Magic' and 'Gospel Brass' and Agder's celebration of all things joyful and happy under the baton of Russell Gray.

The 'Best Soloist' award went to the evergreen sop star Nigel Fielding with a cracking rendition of 'One Day I'll Fly Away'.

Third Division:

2015 and 2016 champion Haukas Brass returned to the winner's enclosure in the Third Division, as their well put together set under Egil Magnussen saw them secure a clear-cut victory from rivals Stangaland Brass, with Hetlevik Musikklag in third.

Haukas opened with 'Fanfare and Flourishes', before principal cornet Vilde Haukas Fosse gave a superb 'Best Soloist' rendition of 'Vidda'. Contrast came with 'Funky Hedde' and 'Underlige Aftenlufte' before they closed with 'New Waves' by Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen.

English conductor Melvin White led Stangaland's inventive take on the well-known tale of the '1001 Nights of Scheherazade' — from imprisonment to escape, whilst there was certainly a heroic story to tell in Hetlevik's programme composed and arranged by Andreas Heier Roe.

The top-six places went to the folksong inspired Skeie Brass, the eclectic genres from classic miliary march to big band from Moen Musikkforening and Norheimsund Musikklag's memory package of thanks.

Fourth Division:

There was a new name to be engraved on the Fourth Division trophy as Salhus/Hordvik Musikklag, conducted by Ole-Andreas Førde secured a clear victory.

Their set managed to pack in works from Goff Richards to Idar Torskangerpoll as well as inspiration as diverse as 'Attack of the Killer Trombones' to Eric Osterling's iconic 'Bandology'.

The band's principal cornet Mathilde Liljeback took the 'Best Soloist' award for her excellent performance of 'Blamann, Blamann'.

It enabled them to claim victory over rivals Rosendal Musikklag who delivered a set in homage to Cornish composer Goff Richards, whilst third placed Fitjar Musikklag opted for a 'Funk the Earth' theme.

Elsewhere there was a huge variety of genres and styles on show from the remaining top six of Riska Brass Band, Randaberg Musikkorps and Karmsund Brass all the way to the enthusiastic Julebygba Brass.

It was intense and the right atmosphere I felt for all this musicIngar Bergby

Results:

Elite Division:

Adjudicators: Stig Nordhagen & Ben Haemhouts
Oygunn Ebenhard (separate entertainment prize)

1. Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Ingar Bergby): 98+9 = 107
2. Stavanger Brass Band (Allan Withington): 97+7 = 104
3. Kleppe Musikklag (Tormod Flaten): 96+6 = 102
4. Manger Musikklag (Martin Winter): 95+ 6 = 101
5. Jaren Hornmusikkforening (Adam Cooke): 94+6 = 100
6. Bjørsvik Brass (Magnus Brandseth): 93+6 = 99
7. Oslo Brass Band (David Morton): 90.5+8 = 98.5
8. Krohnengen Brass Band (Sindre Dalhaug): 90+8 =98
9. Tertnes Brass (Tormod Flaten): 90+5 = 95

Best Soloist: Arfon Owen (horn) — Stavanger
Entertainment: Bjørsvik Brass

First Division:

Adjudicators: Katrina Marzella & Garry Cutt

1. Flesland Musikklag (Margie Antrobus): 93+9 = 102
2. Sola Brass Band (Gwyn Evans): 92+9 = 101
3. Rong Brass (David Morton): 93+7 = 100
4. Askøy Brass Band (Svein Henrik Giske): 91+8 = 99
5. Oslofjord Brass (Frode Amundsen): 91+7 = 98
6. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn (Kjetil Djønne): 88+7 = 95
7. Radøy Brass (Torstein Aagard-Nilsen): 87+7 = 94
8. Tysnes Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen): 86+7 = 93
9. Hasle Brass (Robert Solberg Nilsen): 85+7 = 92

Best Soloist: Kine Oen (flugel) — Rong Brass

Second Division:

Adjudicators: Ingrid Wangsvik & Chris Jeans

1. Montebello Brass (Prof Preben Nicolay Kragh-Riesling): 98+10 = 108
2. Sagvag Musikklag (Morten E Hansen): 96+10 = 106
3. Krohnengen Old Stars (Oyvind Raknes Nikolaisen): 95+10 = 105
4. Bergen Brass Band (Thor-Arne Pedersen): 95+9 = 104
5. Manger Old Star Brass (Patrik Randefalk): 94.5+6.5 = 101
6. Agder Brass (Russell Gray): 92.5+8 = 100.5
7. Stavanger kommunes korps (Morten Ovrebekk): 93+7 = 100
8. Skui Brassband (Rune Furøy Johansen): 91.5+8 = 99.5
9. Gjesdal Brass Band (Jonas Skartveit Rogne): 91+8 = 99
10. Follesø Musikklag (Christian Breistein): 91.5+7 = 98.5
11. Alexander Brass Band (Morten E. Hansen): 92+6 = 98
12. Oster Brass (Jane Westervik): 90+7 = 97
13. Sørum Musikklag (Maria Molund): 88+7 = 95
14. Lindas Brass (Vidar Nordli): 87.5+5 = 92.5
15. Fjell Brass (Trond Helland): 87+5 = 92

Best Soloist: Nigel Fielding (soprano) — Alexander Brass Band

Third Division:

Adjudicators: Frode Rydland & Samantha Harrison

1. Haukas Musikklag (Egil Magnussen): 94+10 = 104
2. Stangaland Brass (Melvin White): 92+8 = 100
3. Hetlevik Musikklag (Sturle Berntsen): 91+9 = 100
4. Skeie Brass (Nigel Fielding): 90+9 = 99
5. Moen Musikkforening (Ole Kristian Egge): 89+8 = 97
6. Norheimsund Musikklag (Viljar Bjørsvik Rath): 88+8 = 96
7. Tysvaer Brass (Martin Kinn): 97+7 = 95
8. Indre Torungen Brass Ensemble (Lars-Bjørnar Strengenes): 86+8 = 94
9. IMI Brass (Halvor Gaard): 85+6 = 91
10. Lyshornet Brass (Fredrick Schjelderup): 84+5 = 89
11. Seim Musikklag (Gunleik Reini Urfjell): 83+5 = 88
12. Laksevag Musikkforening (Fredrick Schjelderup): 82+4 = 86
13. Eidsberg Brassband (Sverre Caspersen): 80+5 = 85

Best Soloist: Vilde Haukas Fosse (cornet) — Haukas Musikklag

Fourth Division:

Adjudicators: Anne Crookston & Daniel Hall

1. Salhus/Hordvik Musikklag (Ole-Andreas Førde): 93+10 = 103
2. Rosendal Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen): 91+10 = 101
3. Fitjar Musikklag (Svein Roger Koppang): 90+10 = 100
4. Riska Brass Band (Espen Westbye): 89+8 = 97
5. Randaberg Musikkorps (Pal Magne Austnes-Underhaug): 97+7 = 94
6. Karmsund Brass (Kristian Thulin): 86+7 = 93
7. Langhus Brass (Thomas Whittington Tengelsen): 86+6.5 = 92.5
8. Musikkorpset Heimdal (Linas Dakinevicius): 85+6 = 91
9. Tasta Brass (Morten Ovrebekk): 84+6 = 90
10. Florø Hornmusikk (Torgeir Halvorsen): 83+6 = 89
11. Jørpeland Musikkorps (Clive Zwanswiniski): 82+6 = 88
12. Bamble Brass (Kjell Arvid Polsrød): 81+ 6 = 87
13. Julebygda Brass (Erlend Sannerud): 80+6 = 86

Best Soloist: Mathilde Liljeback (cornet) — Salhus/Hordvik Musikklag